What Paula is proud of
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- Date published:
8:36 am, December 17th, 2016 - 76 comments
Categories: housing, national, paula bennett, useless -
Tags: homeless, homeless crisis, homelessness, list, pride
I guess Bennett didn’t have a long list to choose from, but – really? On RNZ yesterday:
Bennett says she’s proud of getting homeless into homes
Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett says one of her greatest achievements this year is getting homeless people into homes…
In other news that day:
Fast-growing numbers of homeless putting pressure on freedom camping
Fast-growing rates of homelessness have been revealed in a new Government report into freedom camping.
The Department of Internal Affairs report, published without fanfare this week, found “internally displaced people” were a group contributing to pressure on freedom camping facilities.
“This appears to be a fast-growing group which is adding unplanned demand and competing for public camping spaces,” the report from the DIA and more than 25 council officers found.
“Although homelessness cannot be characterised as freedom camping, due to the lack of choice, year-round, homelessness is an issue [receiving] some benefit from the provision of campsites for non-self-contained vehicles,” the working group added. …
Quite. Here are some other recent headlines that Paula’s pride might like to contemplate…
Most homeless are working poor – Otago Uni
New Zealand housing crisis forces hundreds to live in tents and garages
One in 100 Kiwis homeless, new study shows numbers quickly rising
Calls for increase in social housing as nearly half of the homeless are children
Families with children now 53% of NZ’s homeless
Work and Income sent families to garages
A week at Te Puea (and Marae has fears of ‘smear campaign’)
Government abandons social housing target of 65,000
Housing crisis blamed for Auckland’s rheumatic fever rates
New Zealand’s most shameful secret: ‘We have normalised child poverty’
⏯ The 1st homes in a Special Housing Area in Auckland were meant to be ready this month. But not one has been built. https://t.co/YxWc5wVxPM pic.twitter.com/7lmzniUegr
— Checkpoint (@CheckpointRNZ) December 16, 2016
Asked for an interview everyday this week Paula Bennett refused to front on social and special housing areas pic.twitter.com/xD3LFZs9w4
— Elephant in the room (@LuxonNotMyGovt) December 16, 2016
76 comments on “What Paula is proud of ”
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- Referendums for Māori wards a racist step backwardsThe Government's imposed referendum on Māori wards is a racist step backwards for Māori representation, and disregards Te Tiriti o Waitangi. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Job losses at Health not worth it for tax cutsNew Zealand will feel the harm of the National Government’s reckless cuts to jobs at the health ministry for generations, says Ayesha Verrall. ...2 weeks ago
- Press release: No Māori initiatives in Government’s nothing planMāori are yet to see anything from this Government except cuts, reversals and taking our people backwards, Māori Development spokesperson Willie Jackson said. ...2 weeks ago
- Thirty six point PR spinThe Government’s ‘36 point’ plan for the next three months is as pointless as it is hollow. ...3 weeks ago
- Thirty six point PR spinThe Government’s ‘36 point’ plan for the next three months is as pointless as it is hollow. ...3 weeks ago
- Thirty six point PR spinThe Government’s ‘36 point’ plan for the next three months is as pointless as it is hollow. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Social housing off Government’s to-do listThe Coalition Government’s refusal to commit to ongoing funding for social housing is seeing the sector pull back on developments and families watch their dreams of securing a home fade away, says Labour Housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Less money in most people’s pockets this AprilChanges to minimum wage and benefit indexation means many New Zealanders will get less this year, as the Government gives a big tax break to landlords instead. ...3 weeks ago
- $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...12 hours ago - Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder listThe Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...14 hours ago
- Judicial appointments announcedAttorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...15 hours ago
- Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in SingaporeEducation Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...16 hours ago
- Value of stopbank project proven during cycloneA stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...16 hours ago
- Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visitForeign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...16 hours ago
- Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac DayScience, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...19 hours ago
- Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the PhilippinesPrime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...1 day ago
- Government commits $20m to Westport flood protectionThe Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...1 day ago
- Taupō takes pole positionThe Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...2 days ago
- Cost of living support for low-income homeownersLocal Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...2 days ago
- Government backing mussel spat projectThe Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...2 days ago
- Government focused on getting people into workBenefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...2 days ago
- Clean energy key driver to reducing emissionsThe Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...2 days ago
- Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forwardThe Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...2 days ago
- Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic PartnershipPrime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...2 days ago
- Government consults on extending coastal permits for portsRMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...3 days ago
- Inflation coming down, but more work to doToday’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...3 days ago
- School attendance restored as a priority in health adviceRefreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...3 days ago
- Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sectorOceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...3 days ago
- Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International CongressAssociate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...4 days ago
- Removing red tape to help early learners thriveThe Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...4 days ago
- RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tapeChanges to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...4 days ago
- McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationshipTrade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...4 days ago
- Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister LeePrime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...4 days ago
- PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ tiesPrime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...4 days ago
- Antarctica New Zealand Board appointmentsForeign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...5 days ago
- Finance Minister travels to Washington DCFinance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...5 days ago
- Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlordsThe coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...5 days ago
- Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being consideredState Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...5 days ago
- New Zealand condemns Iranian strikesPrime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel. “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says. "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...5 days ago
- Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plansHundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...1 week ago
- Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand ChairHealth Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board. “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti. “I have asked her to ...1 week ago
- Roads of National Significance planning underwayThe NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...1 week ago
- Navigating an unstable global environmentNew Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States. “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...1 week ago
- NZ welcomes Australian Governor-GeneralPrime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...1 week ago
- Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for WinterAssociate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...1 week ago
- NZ and the US: an ever closer partnershipNew Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...1 week ago
- Joint US and NZ declarationApril 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...1 week ago
- NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperationForeign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research. “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...1 week ago
- Rousing farewell for Kiwi doctors flying out to Gaza aid flotilla
Kia Ora Gaza A passionate haka reverberated through Auckland International Airport as a medical team of three New Zealand doctors received an emotional farewell from a big crowd of supporters before flying to Turkey to join the international Freedom Flotilla to Gaza. The doctors, who left Auckland yesterday, hope to ...6 hours ago - Communities Against The Fast-track Heartened By ‘Overwhelming’ Public Response; Disgusted By ‘...
With submissions closing today, Macassey-Pickard says groups around the country have been supporting a huge range of people to make their submissions. ...8 hours ago - Renters Rights To Drastically Reduce Under Landlord GovernmentThe Government’s announced changes around tenancy rules set renters’ rights back by nearly a decade. ...8 hours ago
- NZPI Submission on Fast Track Approvals BillOur response to the new legislation is informed by targeted conversations with practitioners working in the system and through an implementation lens. ...8 hours ago
- Fast Track Invite List Includes Most Destructive Industries In New ZealandThe new ‘Fast-track Approvals Bill’ would give just three Ministers the power to approve or deny development projects. They would avoid the usual checks and balances that are in place to protect rivers, land, the ocean, and communities. ...8 hours ago
- Eugene Doyle: Helen Clark on why AUKUS isn’t in New Zealand’s national interestCOMMENTARY: By Eugene Doyle Helen Clark, how I miss you. The former New Zealand Prime Minister — the safest pair of hands this country has had in living memory — gave a masterclass on the importance of maintaining an independent foreign policy when she spoke at an AUKUS symposium held ...8 hours ago
- Government releases list of organisations shoulder-tapped for fast-track consents
The government's released the list of organisations provided with information on how to apply - just hours before public submissions on the bill close. ...10 hours ago - The Week in Politics: Job cuts surge and Waitangi Tribunal troubleAnalysis - It's been a grim week for public servants, while trouble is also brewing between the government and Waitangi Tribunal. ...11 hours ago
- It never rains but it pours: intense rain and flash floods have increased inland in eastern Australi...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milton Speer, Visiting Fellow, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney Before climate change really got going, eastern Australia’s flash floods tended to concentrate on our coastal regions, east of the Great Dividing Range. But that’s changing. Now ...11 hours ago
- Watch: Christopher Luxon speaks to media in ManilaThe PM has defended how he's talked up NZ trade on his trip to Southeast Asia, after criticism from his own delegation. ...11 hours ago
- ‘It could be the death of the museum’: why research cuts at a South Australian institution have ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elizabeth Finkel, Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow, La Trobe University Sia Duff / South Australian Museum In February, the South Australian Museum “re-imagined” itself. In the face of rising costs and inadequate government funds, CEO David Gaimster, who took the reins last June, declared ...11 hours ago
- Government signs off $41m clean energy deal with Asian Development BankThe government has committed $41 million to clean energy transition at the Asian Development Bank's Energy Transition Mechanism. ...12 hours ago
- Are 2 mid-career AFL retirements a sign Australian athletes are taking brain health more seriously?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alan Pearce, Professor, School of Allied Heath, Human Services & Sport, La Trobe University, La Trobe University This week, Collingwood AFL player Nathan Murphy announced his retirement, brought on by his concussion history and ongoing issues. The 24-year-old’s seemingly sudden retirement, ...14 hours ago
- Luxon: Waitangi Tribunal comments from coalition parties 'ill considered'Comments from ACT and NZ First ministers about the Tribunal were "ill considered" and "that message will be underscored" to them, the PM says. ...14 hours ago
- Mental Health Foundation Facing Staff Cuts From Govt Funding SqueezeThe Mental Health Foundation provides support and resources for those facing the loss of their job, so it’s wrong in the very week the Government adds another 1000 jobs to its tally of cuts, that this is happening. ...14 hours ago
- I wholeheartedly recommend The President: a brilliant revival of a play of decay, terror and revulsi...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Howard, Senior Lecturer, Discipline of English and Writing, University of Sydney Daniel Boud/Sydney Theatre Company Decay, terror, revulsion. These are three of the central themes of Thomas Bernhard’s rarely performed play The President. The Austrian is one of the greatest ...14 hours ago
- How the coolest little capital is shrinkingIt's not the first time a government has targeted public servants for job cuts, but this time Wellington is really feeling it. ...15 hours ago
- Many prisoners go years without touching a smartphone. It means they struggle to navigate life on th...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ye In (Jane) Hwang, Postdoctoral Research Associate at School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney Shutterstock You’d be hard pressed to find any aspect of daily life that doesn’t require some form of digital literacy. We need only to look back ten ...15 hours ago
- Ministers accused of Cabinet Manual breach with threats to Waitangi Tribunal
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says threats by ministers Shane Jones and David Seymour to reform or close down the Waitangi Tribunal were “ill-considered”, as legal experts say the ministers may have breached Cabinet Manual conventions. “I think those comments are ill-considered and we expect all ministers to actually exercise good ...15 hours ago - Good news: midlife health is about more than a waist measurement. Here’s whySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rob Newton, Professor of Exercise Medicine, Edith Cowan University Pexels/RDNE stock project You’re not in your 20s or 30s anymore and you know regular health checks are important. So you go to your GP. During the appointment they measure your waist. ...15 hours ago
- The Friday Poem: ‘Mitochondrial Problem’ by Evangeline Riddiford Graham
A new poem by Evangeline Riddiford Graham. Mitochondrial Problem I. It was long drive to Kansas for the man and his dog but you have to understand he said She doesn’t fly. Which calls to mind not carsick shitting barking or whining but a dog who chooses not to as ...15 hours ago - The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending April 18The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington. AUCKLAND 1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38) Hot off the press, this debut ...15 hours ago
- Department of Conservation closing Dunedin centre, but no jobs lostVisitor habits are changing and DOC needs to adapt in a financially sustainable way, its operations director says. ...15 hours ago
- Unions Collaborate With Thousands Of Job CutsWith New Zealand officially in recession, a swathe of mass sackings is currently sending shockwaves through the entire working class. ...15 hours ago
- Watch live: Christopher Luxon speaks to media in ManilaPrime Minister Christopher Luxon is speaking to reporters in Manila after pledging greater defence cooperation with the Philippines. Watch live. ...15 hours ago
- Government sent please explain letter to Wellington City Council over transport disagreementThe contents were revealed in correspondence from Simeon Brown and Chris Bishop to Wellington's Mayor. ...15 hours ago
- Some families push back against journalists who mine social media for photos – they have every rig...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laura Wajnryb McDonald, PhD candidate in Criminology, University of Sydney Less than 24 hours after Ashlee Good was murdered in Bondi Junction, her family released a statement requesting the media take down photographs they had reproduced of Ashlee and her family without ...16 hours ago
- Mental Health Foundation staff cuts loom, with funding falling behind rising costsChief executive Shaun Robinson said it has not had any government funding cut, but government-funded contracts have not kept pace with rising costs. ...16 hours ago
- The ‘devil comet’ 12P/Pons-Brooks has finally become visible from Australia. What can we expect?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonti Horner, Professor (Astrophysics), University of Southern Queensland Pons–Brooks visible from Utah, March 9 2024. James Peirce/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND If you’re a fan of all things space, you’ve doubtless heard about the “devil comet”, which has been captivating keen-eyed observers in the ...16 hours ago
- Rugby stadiums are sold as an economic asset – but NZ needs to ask if they’re really worth itSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Hamlin, Senior Lecturer in Marketing , University of Otago A multi-billion dollar stadium precinct has been proposed for Auckland, one of three proposals in front of Auckland Council for a new stadium in the city. The council is also considering revamping ...16 hours ago
- Auckland dog attacks: Callouts for attacks on other animals going upRoaming dogs are responsible for more than a thousand attacks on animals each year, and the number is growing. ...17 hours ago
- What access to puberty blockers means for trans young people and their whānauThe Ministry of Health has delayed the release of its evidence brief on the safety, reversibility and mental health and wellbeing outcomes for puberty blockers. While we wait, Julia de Bres speaks to those with firsthand experience. Best practice gender-affirming healthcare is based on trans people’s self-determination and agency. The ...17 hours ago
- NZ and Philippines pledge defence cooperation amid rising tensionsThe commitment came after a sit-down meeting between Christopher Luxon and President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Romualdez Marcos Jr overnight. ...18 hours ago
- How superblocks can help reimagine city lifeBarcelona’s city streets have gone from traffic-clogged to pedestrian-friendly. How? Superblocks. Ellen Rykers explains. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week I read a great interview with renowned urbanist Janette Sadik-Khan by The Spinoff’s Wellington editor Joel MacManus: “You can reimagine streets, ...18 hours ago
- Fire engineering expertise may take a big hit with job cuts at MBIEThe public sector cuts are poised to take out a big chunk of expertise at the country's building regulator. ...19 hours ago
- “Fast-track Law To Kill Kiwi”: Students Say Fight Against Anti-democracy Legislation Is Only Jus...Student groups ‘Climate Action VUW’, Schools Strike 4 Climate and VUWSA will be on the street in Wellington today, the last day for submissions on the Fast-track Approvals Bill, with a message that the fight against the Government’s ‘War on ...19 hours ago
- ‘We have thousands of Modis’: the secret behind the BJP’s enduring success in IndiaSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sofia Ammassari, Research Fellow, Griffith University Since 2014, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity has grown exponentially – and so has the formidable organisational machine of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). These two factors will be key to delivering the BJP a ...20 hours ago
- Online schooling is not just for lockdowns. Could it work for your child?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendon Hyndman, Associate Professor of Education (Adjunct) & Senior Manager (BCE), Charles Sturt University During COVID almost all Australian students and their families experienced online learning. But while schools have long since gone back to in-person teaching, online learning has not gone ...20 hours ago
- Hear me out: You can shove your reusable period productsYes, they’re better for the environment. No, that’s not a good enough reason for me to use them. Once every 26 days or so, my period arrives, and if struck by an act of God, I am caught red-crotched without products. How, after 17 years of this, do I still ...20 hours ago
- Rip It Up And Start Over – Fast-Track Approvals Bill Needs To Be Scrapped“It will cause significant harm to our environment and communities. It is completely at odds with New Zealanders’ relationship with nature and our need for a low-carbon, sustainable economic future." ...20 hours ago
- Maori Authority Warns Government On Fast Track LegislationThe Chair of the National Maori Authority, Matthew Tukaki, has warned a Parliamentary Select Committee that fast-tracking legislation is a perilous practice that undermines the core tenets of democracy, transparency, and accountability. ...20 hours ago
- Why the government’s haste in changing the health system could come back to haunt itSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Tenbensel, Associate Professor, Health Policy, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images Since coming into power, the coalition government has adopted a simple but shrewd see-how-fast-we-can-move political strategy. However, in the health sector this need for speed entails ...20 hours ago
- Many suicides are related to gambling. How can we tackle this problem?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Hronis, Clinical Psychologist, University of Technology Sydney Darya Sannikova/Pexels Whether you’re watching TV, attending a footy game, or eating a meal at your local pub, gambling is hard to escape. Although the rise of gambling is not unique to Australia, ...20 hours ago
- Things that go buzz in the night – our global study found there really are more insects out after ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Wong, Forrest Fellow, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia Have you ever wondered if there are more insects out at night than during the day? We set out to answer this question by combing through the scientific ...20 hours ago
- Why don’t Australians talk about their salaries? Pay transparency and fairness go hand-in-handSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Carol T Kulik, Research Professor, University of South Australia IR Stone/Shutterstock In Australia, it’s not the done thing to know – let alone ask – what our colleagues are paid. Yet, it’s easy to see how pay transparency can make pay ...20 hours ago
- ‘Character’ And Its Impact On Immigration StatusThe Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is sounding a warning to migrants, that running foul of the law may see them leaving the country prematurely. ...20 hours ago
- 20,000 more on jobseeker benefits than this time last yearThe government’s plan to get 50,000 people off jobseeker support by 2030 has had a rocky start, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Beneficiary numbers are up – and so are ...21 hours ago
- All of the Raglan Roast cafes in Wellington, ranked from worst to bestRaglan Roast is a staple of Wellington coffee culture. But with five branches across the capital, which one is the best? I am a die-hard Raglan Roast fan. It’s consistently the most affordable cafe in Wellington, and one of the only places you can get a coffee after 3pm. So, ...24 hours ago
- Auckland uni students threaten rent strike over rising accommodation feesResidents of University of Auckland halls are being urged to withhold their accommodation fees from May 1, in a bid to force the university to take student concerns over rent hikes seriously. The University of Auckland is facing a strike from students over the cost of on-campus accommodation. The Students ...24 hours ago
- Financial literacy should be on all of usOpinion: With maths understanding at 42 percent for Year 8 students, there’s no doubt something has to be done. But how? The post Financial literacy should be on all of us appeared first on Newsroom. ...24 hours ago
- Missy rustles to stardom in CanadaHineaupounamu ‘Missy’ Nuku has been scaling mountains in Canada for her college basketball team, the Lakeland Rustlers. Alberta is currently home for the 20-year-old point guard, who is in her first year of a scholarship at Lakeland College, where she is studying for a business degree. She has certainly made ...24 hours ago
- Emissions fall again – now NZ needs to up the paceOfficial figures confirm New Zealand produced less climate pollution in 2022 than in any other year in the 21st century The post Emissions fall again – now NZ needs to up the pace appeared first on Newsroom. ...24 hours ago
- Warning of death from a million cuts as Oceans Secretariat dissolvedShane Jones says people voted for change, but opponents say small cuts such as ending a special oceans secretariat are starting to add up The post Warning of death from a million cuts as Oceans Secretariat dissolved appeared first on Newsroom. ...24 hours ago
- Defence deal to counter Beijing’s aggression in South China SeaNew Zealand and the Philippines have signed a new maritime security agreement and stated their concerns over activity in the South China Sea, as Chinese vessels continue to flout international law. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Philippines President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos committed to signing a Mutual Logistics Supporting Arrangement by ...24 hours ago
- Wellington’s ebb and flow of public servantsThe thousands of government “back-office” job cuts are causing widespread pain in the capital city. In today’s episode of The Detail, we speak to three journalists and a think tank researcher, looking at the larger picture around the cuts and what effect it will have on Wellington, a city that’s ...24 hours ago
- New Zealand transport planning has gone off the railsOpinion: The famed American architect and urban designer Daniel Burnham once said, “Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men’s blood!” Burnham wouldn’t have been referring to the transport plans in Aotearoa New Zealand over the past five years; projects so big they hadn’t the credibility to ...24 hours ago
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I wonder if Bennett is proud of having learned spin, misdirection and double-speak from a master?
Isn’t she a piece of work? What have we come to in this country when someone like this is even in parliament, let alone in her position – personally I don’t think she’s fit to be in charge of the hotel cat!
I picked up on this piece of truism:
Which sums up Madam Bennett nicely. She has to brag about her ‘achievements’ because in reality there are none. Indeed she has achieved the opposite… helped to make life worse for those experiencing hardship (often through no fault of their own) and the generally dispossessed.
And she’s done so specifically to make rich people richer.
What is Paula proud of?
Paula.
Yes exactly right Robert…….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUPozz-yYOQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GL7NnV2ntYU&t=39s
Especially proud of her ” Buttons and bows”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfW9-0EzYxA
This seems to be one of those times when you take what the Minister said as the exact opposite of what she meant. After all, she’s assisted in making homelessness worse by kicking people out of the homes that they had on trumped up drugs charges.
Just after being made deputy pm Paula Bennett said to the media that she will not stuff up on this(being deputy pm).
Which means she has acknowledged she has made a complete stuff up on her previous MSD portfolio and her more recent HNZ portfolio when she became minister of each government dept.
I am now wondering if the recent budget that English proclaimed had a wonderful surplus in was the beginning of the Bill and Benn love-affair.Within days of the budget Bennett told all and sundry that she was offering $5000 per homeless person to ‘get out of Auckand’. News items indicated she had not discussed this with English but in my opinion I now get the feeling she did.
And it was probably about the same time Key was deciding to resign as PM and let Bill and Benn know his decision as well. Hence another reason why Bennett was grinning like a cheshire cat at the outcome of the recent Roskill by-election.
Some people have delusions of grandeur. They think they are more important than what they truly are. One person in particular is Paula Bennett. She may promise one thing but will deliver on zilch. But in her delusional state she thinks everything is happening and she make a big fanfare about it because it’s ALL ABOUT PAULA BENNETT and Paula thinks she is a wonderful person.
All I see on this site are nasty posts about the current Government.
Where is the hope? Where are the alternative ideas and discourse?
The Left seem to be bereft of answers so just happily chip away at the status quo. Top tip for 2017 – that approach won’t get Labour into Government.
Housing and the lack thereof better get this current lot out, they don’t get to play nice, nice after 8 years of ruination
Typical RWNJ – complain about the truth being pointed out about their heroes.
RWNJ. Such a default setting.
Tired of all those whining lefties?
Sick of the critics embarrassing your political heroes ?
Bereft of any real plans for the future yet still desire to defend the indefensible ?
……………………………………………………………………………..
THEN try sAm C ‘s answer for the National party !!!!
* Sleeps up to 5 !
* No rent to pay – taking all those hard earned dollars from your wallet !
* Erected within hours !
* Open plan outdoor / indoor living !
* Breezy and cool in summer / ‘aerated ‘ for those long winter nights – prevents steam build up that causes mold !
* Council approved ( special conditions apply )
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEUGOyjewD4
Hope is living in a car freedom camping, cause that sure beats living in a house with indoor plumbing.
thanks National Party, you are doing a stellar job.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/87649873/fastgrowing-numbers-of-homeless-putting-pressure-on-freedom-camping
and the Situational Analysis …..https://www.dia.govt.nz/diawebsite.nsf/Files/Freedom-Camping/$file/Freedom-Camping-Situational-Analysis.pdf
“4. Internal displacement (homelessness) – this appears to be a fast growing group
which is adding unplanned demand and competing for public camping spaces.
Although homelessness cannot be characterised as freedom camping, due to the lack
of choice, year round, homelessness is an issue that is receiving some benefit from the
provision of camp sites for non-self-contained vehicles and is included in this analysis
for completeness. This is discussed further below.
Homelessness and permanent freedom camping living
There appears to be an increasing group of local people who are living temporarily and
permanently in motor vehicles. This activity can cause primary and secondary harms,
especially when vehicles are grouped together. People living in these vehicles are also
at increased risk of harm from harassment and theft [see Christchurch example]. There
are also a number of temporary and seasonal workers who may use motor vehicles for
the duration of their employment as the availability of affordable accommodation
options are not present.
Existing bylaws and public services do not manage this group well. With few places to
park, limits on nights spent at any one place, limited litter bin capacity, and few public
toilets open at night. ‘Homeless’ campers may be caught by enforcement action under
the Act, which just moves them to a different location and adds to their existing
financial burdens. This does not address the campers’ needs or the effects on public
areas generally. Central Otago District Council has issues regarding seasonal workers.”
.
Hi Sam C
. Are you suggesting that the Left has no policy of building Houses?
. While Billy English and Paula are in fact selling Sate Houses off . As fast as they can go.
You could try perhaps to encourage your Party to build houses – for the homeless. You old stirrer.
No, I’m saying they have no CREDIBLE policy on building houses.
Saying you’ll build 10,000 houses a year is like me saying I’ll single-handedly stop climate change. Idiotic.
Sam you are hugely exaggerating. Back to the issues, there are plenty of ideas on this blog, maybe you have been looking on the wrong pages? Or maybe you are simply looking for a bite?
It’s interesting that you run down others policy but do not supply any ideas of your own.
It’s obvious that the outgoing governments housing plan has not been working for many many years now, after all if it was working there would be no housing crisis. Don’t you think?
Re building 10k of houses in a year, how would one know if it would work or not if you don’t try. Technology has changed everything, everything.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SObzNdyRTBs
That’s one way of 3D printing houses. I’m more in favour of this one:
And I’m pretty sure that the government could easily develop such devices here in NZ using local capability and resources which will provide jobs and develop the economy.
that was a primo link Draco, so many merits to using this kind of technology. Nice floor plan too.
Aussie robot prototype builds a house in 2 days. The next design should be even faster. Making waves on the ASX
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YcrO8ONcfY
Sam, if anyone out there would really be serious – there are models the NZ government can copy – admittingly in Europe but mind you if successful and I think they are and will be, its worth a look. MILLIONS of refugees and immigrants have entered the mainland Europe in the last 2-3 years. To absorb that many people, feed, house and support them has to be one of the toughest jobs and they are pretty good in what they do. It takes brain, courage and sincerity, qualities that MR Bennett with her pursed lips giving condescending advise wont be able to emulate. Unfortunately, this is all NZ has got at the moment and the only saying that comes to mind is: There is a sucker born every minute.
No, really, it isn’t. It just requires doing what you RWNJs are incapable of – planning the necessary resources.
Actually we have the capacity to not only build 10,000 house per year already – we also have the resources necessary to develop the infrastrucure within which to site them. All it needs is the dedication and commitment to do it. Houses do not need to be built on site. This is a slow and inefficient building process. Creating housing modules off site in a factory set up and then transporting to prepared sites for assembly is a far more efficient and better method. Currently every house built on-site is a bespoke creation and has to be individually inspected and certified at regular intervals – it’s like having every shirt or piece of clothing you buy made as a one off. This is nice for those who can afford it – but now-a-days we are happy to buy our clothes off the peg. We still treat our house in this manner.
I have a 2 bedroom cottage of 72 sq m that was built off site and transported and assembled onsite, connected up to services, and ready to be lived in, in a day. It came complete with its fridge/freezer, dishwasher, full stove and oven, carpets, decks… everything one needed. The cost 8 years ago was less than $90,000. It is steel framed with wooden cladding, and highly presentable. I understand that Alan Duff has exactly the same building – so if it ok for him..
We just need to commitment to ramp up the process.
I actually really hope Labour get in next year. Seeing such simple plans implemented will be so rewarding.
Because the current government hasn’t thought of or investigated these options already. They’re just being bloody minded, right?
One just has to look at the building suppliers, the monopoly etc to understand why the outgoing government likes to do things their way. Capitalism and it’s a real shame
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/201818170/new-zealand's-sky-high-building-costs
The current govt knows very well theres options but wont do anything because :
* It would show up their free market neo liberalism for the fraudulent ideology it is.
* It would erode the base who voted National that has been seduced into the false notion of being paper millionaires.
* It would mean donations to the National party would therefore drop.
* It would lessen the neo liberal agenda to weaken national sovereignty by increasing the number of land and home owners and thereby politically empowering them.
* It would weaken the case for justifying having an unrealistic , unsustainable and irresponsible immigration policy.
* Along with that immigration , – the ability of unscrupulous employers to undermine unions , wages and conditions in NZ.
No the present government is unable to think outside the square Sam – that is why they are such a completely hopeless and shoddy administration. Furthermore they are hamstrung by the ideology that says “small government is good government”. This is nonsense when firm action is required on an issue. To leave these things to the private sector (their modus operandi), is in effect to do nothing, and because they chose to do nothing – business will continue as usual. Of course that is what National wants. BAU. But that is not what is now required. So essentially they have to go, before anything constructive for the population can occur.
All indications are that they’re incapable of thinking inside the square as well. They’re just robots with outdated programming that’s incapable of recognising that things have changed and so they keep doing the things that have failed.
True. Here we have Businesses with the technology that could well be expanded – but hey – let’s just sit on our hands and do nothing.
Sam C they aren’t being blooded minded they don’t give a f
Exactly.
But unfortunately, it sometimes seems to me that there those in charge must harbor a almost pathological hatred of those who are not able to afford even a modest house. I truly belief that this pathology is the reason nothing has been done and a lot of sitting on hand is on display.
If we would talk about a casino it would go up in a flash.
The present people in charge don’t want poor people to be able to afford their own home because then they and their donors wouldn’t be able to become rentiers and live well on the hard work of others.
My grandparents lived their entire adult lives without owning their own home. They seemed to live a happy and fruitful existence.
What’s with this obsession that everyone has to own their own homes?
For me it’s so my family can live where they want to live for as long as they like. Was lucky enough to find my paradise before the crisis, no way on earth we could afford buying a house in the present climate.
If you have ever lived in a “tied house” you would know .We lived in ties houses foe 30 odd years ,The last fifty years in our own house have been serious worry free, Thanks to Labour’s State loans. Lets bring a similar system back for the present young people.
Caves don’t count as a definition for a ‘ home’ ,… sAm C… and some people aspire to have more security than a tent.
I’m also surprised that far right wing neo liberal sycophants such as yourself cant see that a society that can no longer afford housing means the financial sector suffers in the long term ( just whose side are you really on ??? )… yet you still defend your beloved party’s idiot incompetence.
Are you a landlord sAm C ?… do you have vested interests in there being lack of adequate housing? Is this why you support a sub standard and deregulated rental accommodation industry ?
They don’t have to be for ownership Sam – they can be built for state housing.
The added advantage of these homes is this: – if for whatever reason they need to be resited – that can be achieved just as easily as they were installed in the first place – because they are built to be transported. I know – I did it with my own.
Although a reasonable question why is it that renting should provide others with more wealth?
Try raising a family with insecure tenancy, shifting schools, going from rental to rental right through the year, that is the reality of families renting in New Zealand. We used to have state houses to stop that constant churn.
That makes perfect sense, offsite building, especially when it comes to getting things ‘ticked off’ by inspectors, as well as so many other benefits. Awesome, what a cool buzz that would have been the day the house was delivered, amazing.
Here are some examples of pre-built transportable homes available now.
http://www.ezylinehomes.co.nz/plans/standard-series/
https://www.advancebuild.co.nz/floor-plans/
http://go-homes.co.nz
ours is a Go Home.
“nasty posts”
Ho hum – some of us get a tad miffed at people who harm others while enriching themselves and their friends, and then lie about what they’re doing.
Strange that.
And there are plenty of alternatives – our own history is full of them. 1984 is not year zero. Go read a book or something.
Sam C do you want us to do these bastards work when they are getting paid for it and some
People in temporary shelter, old motels, boarding houses, marae, anything without any secure tenure are NOT in homes. The word HOME means permanency, it means a place of belonging, it means stability and security.
I think it is time we stop using the word home for where people live unless it fits those criteria. Other than that it is just shelter, that’s all, just shelter and state and social houses have become that as well, just shelter.
If we start regarding the word home for what it really is, and then start thinking what is really required for people to have them, THEN we might start getting somewhere.
Mr Landlord-out-there, you do NOT provide homes.
+1
Well said.
I asked a man about life in the Soviet Union and he told me he had grown up there in the Brezhnev years. He had a happy childhood with permanent right to an apartment. an education, healthcare and stable, secure jobs for his parents. After tertiary education in the USSR and the regime change, he started a successful career in the US. He said the problem with being an adult in the USSR was not being allowed to work, live and travel where you wanted to and the narrow wage difference between professional and non-professional workers.
What this tells me is that when a modern state attempts to provide citizens with “a place of belonging, stability and security” some citizens, perhaps mainly the tertiary educated, will not be happy and most other states, enabled by their voters, will not be supportive,
I think the big problem is that he thinks that some workers aren’t professionals.
He said why shouldn’t someone with a higher education, specialized and sought after skills and making life and death decisions (his father was a doctor) be paid more ? He might have mentioned prestige as well, I can’t recall.
I asked him why he hadn’t gone back to Russia and he said that if he started a business there, he would have to pay off the mafia.
I agree with Rae, but as Sam C at 9 says “where are the alternative ideas and discourse”.
How to achieve Rae’s ideal without people feeling they are enslaved by the state ?
Why should they? They’re not actually working any harder and, for many of them, they’re actually less in demand.
As for prestige: We actually used to value people who simply did work in this country. Now we disparage those who do critical work such as clean our parks and public toilets while holding those who crash the economy for their own benefit.
Yeah, I think we’ve got our values really badly wrong and your friend from Russia is a glaring example of that wrongness.
http://neweconomics.org/a-bit-rich/?lost=true&_sf_s=+publications+++a+bit+rich
This is hilarious. Life under Brezhnev was all beer and skittles, is that what you’re implying?
That sort of view is so deluded, I don’t really know where to begin.
Ah, I see that, as a typical RWNJ, you don’t have an argument and thus revert to ad hominem attacks.
As opposed you, who when faced with a view contrary to your own, simply dismisses it as the ravings of a “RWNJ”.
Who was the idiot who gave $5000 to leave Auckland then another $2000 to come back again and do it all again ?
Ahhhh… that’s right ! Paula lard – brain Bennett.
Shes quite the funny lady , really ,… didn’t even tell her daddy when he was planning the national budget … great show of teamwork there, one must admit.
But never mind,… both of them reunited and back together in the bonds of holy sanctimony once again.
They’ll make a good team, – If they ever let the other one know what the other ones up to.
You didn’t provide a contrary view – just an ad hominem.
It simple for Draco he simply parrots the ramblings of a deluded 18th century German dude that wiped out a forest on some book called Das Kapital while bludging off a champaign socialist called Engels
Whereas you parrot Ayn Rand. Is it her amphetamine use or love of psychopaths that appeals to you?
No, I don’t do that either. So, that would be another RWNJ making up lies about me.
Charming?
Wasn’t meant to be.
At all.
Any chance you could go away?
These far right wing neo liberal extremists are great sport though, they are so extreme , – so blindly loyal they just cannot even see when their own party has just shit all over them.
Or even refuse to admit it. They cannot cope with being wrong so they simply argue blindly and without direction to save their egos.
Therefore, I welcome them. As I said,… they make great sport , and , here’s the important role they play ,… in spite of their ridiculousness, – or at least because of it ,- it gives a marvelous opportunity for so many brilliant ideas and solutions to be brought forth into the public arena.
As well as provide a background for other issues such as this govts corruption and collusion over the murder of 29 workers at Pike River.
You are becoming obsessive over pike river, not healthy WK
You’re fond of pretending to diagnose people, just like your role-model – Josef Stalin.
What is not healthy, where Pike River goes, is a society that allows for a total denial of even an attempt at justice for 29 dead people.
red.
One could say the same about you – the same obsessive preoccupation with cheerleading a dying ideology and a dying govt.
NEWSFLASH !!! – KEYS GONE!
Last one to leave turn out the lights.
And that’s little old you , Red… all alone in the corner with a few die hard sycophants with a penchant for blogging jaded political ideas.
You best try that trolling finger a whole lot harder from here on in because the cheap salesman is no longer around to keep Farrar in clover.
Obsessive?… I guess your the type of sycophant that agreed with trying to cover up things such as the Holocaust , Watergate in the early stages. Or any number of otherwise obvious cases of govt and officialdom acting in collusion.
That’s the thing with you far right wing neo liberal sycophants…. always finding yourselves at odds with history and the law in pursuit of your short term goals.
Maybe it demonstrates who you really are rather than anyone being obsessive here.
Let the games commence.
Now be nice Paul, many could ask the same of you but are to polite
Unfortunately for you mate , I however am more of a blunt bastard – so fuck the hell off , moron .
There.
Hope you enjoyed the clarity of expression of having outstayed your welcome.
Next time if your going to open your ridiculous trap , feel free to contribute something of use instead of just being an advertisement of how useless you far right wing neo liberal idiots really are.
Charming.
From the report you referenced.
“This report is not about targeting any individuals in the highly paid jobs it scrutinises. Neither is it simply suggesting that people in low paid jobs should be paid more. The point we are making is a more complex one – that there should be a relationship between what we are paid and the value our work generates for society.”
I think the point my friend was making, and I agree with him, is that workers who generate more for society deserve more than a medal. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_of_Socialist_Labour
From each according to their ability to each according to their need. (1)
I have no objection to someone making a buck so long as they cover the costs of doing so, provided (1) has already occurred.
Those who benefit the most from society – the wealthy – have every reason to see society succeed.
But that’s just it – our present system doesn’t actually do that and what your friend said, as reported by you, is the exact opposite of that. Where he demands more just because he’s a professional and dismisses the fact that the cleaner is a professional as well.
Guess what, no-one is suggesting the state provide everyone with a home, far from it, but we are demanding the state turn the knobs and adjust the levers so that people are able, from the work they do, provide them for themselves. At the end of that there will be some, for whom that will never be possible for one reason or another, that is when we all pitch in and make sure they can. That, my poor misinformed friend, is what “left”actually is.